my Dream
my Passion
my Life

The idea of Tutus and Tennis Shoes, a one of a kind dance studio that welcomes and nurtures dancers of all interests (recreational to professional), all levels (brand new to highly experienced), and all ages (18mo - 80), was a dream in Charity’s imagination when she graduated from UCA in 2004.

She first started out as a Dance Minor at UALR Little Rock, majoring in Health Science. She then transferred to UCA as she had completed her minor requirements for Dance and wanted to further pursue her career, majoring in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Science, also gaining a second minor in Health and Nutrition. She dreamed of combining her two passions of dance and fitness. It was at that point that she decided to fulfill her dreams and open a studio that incorporated both of her passions. This is where the name Tutus and Tennis Shoes came about.

She remembered a conversation with a professor, “You will never be good working with children, it’s just not your calling”. She knew, at that point, the professor was wrong and she decided to pursue her career, after graduation, as a dance studio owner.

Her story begins much earlier in life when she began dancing at the age of 3. She studied in all genres of dance but has always had a passion for tap, clogging and acrobatics. She was always a shy child but being on the stage was where she got her chance to come out of her shell and be the person she truly was.

She met many dance instructors through her life that changed the way she thought about dance and Fine Arts. There have been many people that came across her path and shaped her into who she is today. From recreational to competitive to Master and Collegiate level classes she has learned from the best of the best.

She has had the opportunity to perform in many popular locations including the Arneson River Theatre in San Antonio as well as the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

After college, In 2004 she founded Tutus and Tennis Shoes. This is when she put her love of performance behind her and stepped behind the scenes to watch her very own students perform on the big stage. She first began with a dream and only 30 students. That dream became her reality when numbers started to rise and enrollment was booming. Tutus and Tennis Shoes has since become a staple business in her beloved city Maumelle, Arkansas.

The studio started out on Maumelle Boulevard with just one small dance room located inside a shopping center. In just two years, it was time to start expanding. She expanded into two rooms inside the shopping center but soon outgrew that location. In 2008, she purchased a 5000s.f. building in the heart of Maumelle. She and her soon to be husband, along with her parents, renovated the space to accommodate 3 dance rooms. Her dream was truly coming true.

Tutus and Tennis Shoes quickly became the place to be for students of all ages. Charity, has had the opportunity to teach so many children, some of which have taken their dance careers to a professional level. She has had the opportunity to instill her passion into so many young people and throughout these years, some of her very first students are now instructors at Tutus and Tennis Shoes.

Whether you are taking recreational classes or competitively dancing, Tutus and Tennis Shoes prides themselves in not only teaching children the art of dance, but also teaching children many life lessons. Every instructor at the studio truly cares about each child. This is what sets them apart from other studios and why so many children feel Tutus and Tennis Shoes is their second home.

Come join the fun as Tutus and Tennis Shoes will continue to play a special roll in Maumelle. We would love to share our passion with you, helping mold each child into the best dancer and person they are meant to be!